‘NHL Draft Class’ podcast: Celebrini’s impact with Sharks discussed
TSN’s Button joins co-hosts Kimelman and Morreale to discuss the first overall pick and preview the future of 2025.
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The “NHL Draft Class” podcast brings down the curtain on the 2024 NHL Draft and looks ahead to the 2025 NHL Draft with TSN director of scouting Craig Button.
Button joined co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the biggest moments of two days at Sphere in Las Vegas, starting with what kind of impact Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 pick, will have as a rookie this season with the San Jose Sharks.
Button said that due to his exceptional talents in various aspects of the game, he will undoubtedly achieve personal triumph, similar to Connor Bedard’s impressive performance in Chicago last season.
Button also touched upon the unexpected choice of forward Beckett Sennecke at the third spot by the Anaheim Ducks. He further highlighted the suitability of the New York Islanders as the ideal destination for forward Cole Eiserman at the twentieth pick. Additionally, Button speculated on the players who may have fallen into the lower rounds of the draft, making us question their oversight when reflecting on the draft five years down the line.
In 2025, Button predicts that Boston College freshman center James Hagens will be among his top picks. Hagens, a 17-year-old, showcased his exceptional skills as he led USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team last season. Impressively, he accumulated 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) in 58 games. Additionally, Hagens set a remarkable tournament record at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, contributing 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in seven games for the United States.
“James is an outstanding player,” Button said. “All you have to consider is he broke Nikita Kucherov‘s record at the U-18 tournament (21 points in 2011) for most points in a single tournament. … James is an elite competitor, he’s got elite skill, he wants to affect the game. He can score, he can make plays.”
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“NHL Draft Class” is free, and listeners can subscribe on all podcast platforms, including iTunes and Spotify. It also is available on NHL.com/multimedia/podcasts and the NHL app.
